Seaborgite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Seaborgite
Glenn T. Seaborg
Formula:
LiK2Na6(UO2)(SO4)5(SO3OH)(H2O)
Colour:
Light yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
2.97
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Glenn Theodore Seaborg (19 April 1912, Ishpeming, Michigan, U.S.A - 25 February 1999, Lafayette, California, U.S.A), chemist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He synthesized and discovered 10 transuranium elements; sharing in the 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this work. He discovered plutonium in 1940 and was Chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission (1961-1971). The element seaborgium and asteroid 4856 Seaborg are also named for him.
New structure type. Unique combination of elements. Also, the only currently approved Li-U mineral species (compare 'ferganite'), and the only lithium-bearing hydrogensulfate mineral.
One of few uranyl hydrogensulfate minerals, the others being belakovskiite and meisserite.
The “Mineral of the Year” award for 2021 has been assigned by the IMA to seaborgite: http://mineralogy-ima.org/docs/Seaborgite_reframe.pdf
One of few uranyl hydrogensulfate minerals, the others being belakovskiite and meisserite.
The “Mineral of the Year” award for 2021 has been assigned by the IMA to seaborgite: http://mineralogy-ima.org/docs/Seaborgite_reframe.pdf
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
54246
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:54246:9
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
8b82f73e-00e9-46b3-b89a-5f31bbd4b99c
IMA Classification of Seaborgite
Approved
Approval year:
2019
First published:
2021
Type description reference:
Classification of Seaborgite
7.EC.
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
E : Uranyl sulfates
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
E : Uranyl sulfates
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Sea | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Seaborgite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Light yellow
Streak:
Very pale yellow
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {100}
On {100}
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.97(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.015 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured by floatation. Calculated from empirical formula. Calculated from ideal formula gives 3.004 g/cm3.
Optical Data of Seaborgite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.505(2) nβ = 1.522(2) nγ = 1.536(2)
2V:
Measured: 85° (1)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.031
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
moderate, r < v
Optical Extinction:
X < Y ≈ Z
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X colorless, Y and Z light green-yellow
Comments:
X ^ a ≈ 10°
Chemistry of Seaborgite
Mindat Formula:
LiK2Na6(UO2)(SO4)5(SO3OH)(H2O)
Crystallography of Seaborgite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.4511(4) Å, b = 14.487(1) Å, c = 15.873(1) Å
α = 76.295(5)°, β = 81.439(6)°, γ = 85.511(6)°
α = 76.295(5)°, β = 81.439(6)°, γ = 85.511(6)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.376 : 1 : 1.096
Unit Cell V:
1203.07 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Elongated on [100], flattened on {010}, and exhibit the forms {100}, {010}, {001}, and {101}
Twinning:
Observed under crossed polar. It is either by reflection on {001} or by rotation around [001]
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 14.67 Å | (97) |
| 5.320 Å | (100) |
| 5.093 Å | (67) |
| 4.733 Å | (75) |
| 3.489 Å | (65) |
| 3.331 Å | (61) |
| 3.078 Å | (61) |
| 2.954 Å | (98) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Seaborgite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Sprays of light-yellow, long flattened prisms or blades, up to about 0.2 mm in length
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA, catalogue number 74163
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kampf, A.R., Olds, T.A., Plášil, J., Marty, J., Perry, S.N., Corcoran, L., Burns, P.C. (2021) Seaborgite, LiNa6K2(UO2)(SO4)5(SO3OH)(H2O), the first uranyl mineral containing lithium. American Mineralogist: 106: 105–111.
Synonyms of Seaborgite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Seaborgite associated with Navrotskyite | K2Na10(UO2)3(SO4)9 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.EC. | Adolfpateraite | K(UO2)(SO4)(OH)(H2O) |
| 7.EC. | Beshtauite | (NH4)2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.EC. | Nitscheite | (NH4)2[(UO2)2(SO4)3(H2O)2] · 3H2O |
| 7.EC. | Oldsite | K2Fe2+[(UO2)(SO4)2]2(H2O)8 |
| 7.EC. | Libbyite | (NH4)2(Na2◻)[(UO2)2(SO4)3(H2O)]2 · 7H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Cobaltzippeite | Co(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Magnesiozippeite | Mg(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Nickelzippeite | Ni2(UO2)6(SO4)3(OH)10 · 16H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Natrozippeite | Na5(UO2)8(SO4)4O5(OH)3 · 12H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Zinczippeite | Zn(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Zippeite | K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Plavnoite | K0.8Mn0.6[(UO2)2O2(SO4)] · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Redcanyonite | (NH4)2Mn[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)4 |
| 7.EC.05 | Ammoniozippeite | (NH4)2[(UO2)2(SO4)O2] · H2O |
| 7.EC.10 | Rabejacite | Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.EC.10 | Svornostite | K2Mg[(UO2)(SO4)2]2 · 8H2O |
| 7.EC.15 | Marécottite | Mg3(UO2)8(SO4)4O6(OH)2 · 28H2O |
| 7.EC.15 | Sejkoraite-(Y) | Y2(UO2)8(SO4)4O6(OH)2 · 26H2O |
| 7.EC.20 | Pseudojohannite | Cu3(OH)2[(UO2)4(SO4)2] · 12H2O |
| 7.EC.40 | Bluelizardite | Na7(UO2)(SO4)4Cl(H2O)2 |
| 7.EC.45 | Meisserite | Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O) |
| 7.EC.45 | Fermiite | Na4(UO2)(SO4)3 · 3H2O |
| 7.EC.45 | Oppenheimerite | Na2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 7.EC.50 | Plášilite | Na(UO2)(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7.EC.50 | Feynmanite | Na(UO2)(SO4)(OH) · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.55 | Geschieberite | K2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.EC.60 | Ottohahnite | Na6(UO2)2(SO4)5(H2O)7 · 1.5H2O |
| 7.EC.65 | Péligotite | Na6(UO2)(SO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 7.EC.70 | Klaprothite | Na6(UO2)(SO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 7.EC.75 | Lussierite | Na10[(UO2)(SO4)4](SO4)2 · 3(H2O) |
| 7.EC.80 | Navrotskyite | K2Na10(UO2)3(SO4)9 · 2H2O |
| 7.EC.85 | Pseudomeisserite-(NH4) | (NH4)2Na4[(UO2)2(SO4)5] · 4H2O |
| 7.EC.90 | Wetherillite | Na2Mg(UO2)2(SO4)4 · 18H2O |
Fluorescence of Seaborgite
Bright lime-green fluorescence under a 405 nm laser
Other Information
Notes:
Immediately soluble in H2O at room temperature
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Seaborgite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-54246.html
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References for Seaborgite
Reference List:
Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Hatert, Frédéric, Pasero, Marco, Mills, Stuart J. (2020) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) – Newsletter 53. European Journal of Mineralogy, 32 (1) 209-213 doi:10.5194/ejm-32-209-2020
Localities for Seaborgite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA (TL) | |
| Miyawaki et al. (2020) +2 other references |
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Blue Lizard Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA